Cotton spindle moistening apparatus



Oct. 6, 1953 D. o. GROSVENOR- COTTON SPINDLE MOISTENING APPARATUQ 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1952 INVENTOR. nnfiwsvmor Oct. 6, 1953 D. o. sndsvzuon 2,654,204

COTTON SPINDLE MOISTENING. APPARATUS IN VEN TOR.

1m Grosvmor Fat ent ed Oct. 6, 1953 Dale. D. Grosvenor,,Ames, Iowa,.assignor to Deere Manufacturing. ('10., Dubuque, Iowa, 2; corpora--- tion'of'lowa ApplicatioirJ uneazl); 1952, Serial-Ni.294,689-' (Cf. SG- fl) 26 Glaims; I;

This invention relates to a, fluid distributor and more particularly. to such distributor. ior. use in a cotton picker of the. spindle type.

A typical cotton picker of the general char.- acter. referred to is disclosed inthe U. S. patent to Johnstom 2,140,631. Such machine willnormally comprise a mobilecarrying frame on which issupported one. or more. picking units.- Each picking unit includes; a rotatable. drum havinga plurality of: circumferentially spaced. columns from: each of which projects a vertical series of picker spindles, the spindles: being thus arranged in vertically spaced horizontal;- layers:- and each spindle being rotatable on; its own axis in. addietion to being carried througha horizontal orbit because of: rotation of the drum. In seme.-in-,- stances, the spindlesv are barbed or otherwise roughened seas to, implement their affinity for the cottonfibers. In other cases; the spindles may be relatively smooth. In either case; it is conventional to supply. moisture: in; one: form: or another. to; the spindles; prior: to; their entrance into. the: cotton plants. The. addition of moisture to the; spindles; has; been: found to increase the-picking capacity of the'spindles.,,to minimize the accumulationon the: spindles of plant juicesand other foreign matten,andztoiacilitatedofiins, or wiping? oft the cottonfrorrr the spindles;

In one. form or conventional picking; machine heretofore knowmthemeans forrsuppl-yina; mois tureor.- fluid. to the spindles; comprises-a vertical' series of moistening pads, spaced apart. on the order of? the: verticalv spacing, oi the; layers. of spindles. so; that. the: spindles; of each; layer pass below: and; receive: moisture; from the associated pad. Fluid is supplied to-the pads by a column-like device made up. at a. plurality of individual tubes terminally connected: to. the pads and having their other ends communicating: with a headerwhich is in turn connected: to. a source of fluid supply. Although. an arrangement or the, character just: referredto is adequqate. from the standpoint of operating efficiency, the very nature. of the construction. presents seriousmanufacturing. problems, since the individual tubes must be supported properly; and must be separately connected to-themoisteningpads and to the'header.

According. tothe :present invention, the manu.-= facturine problems are eliminated and the; operatin'g efficiency of the fluid distributor is: in..- creased. by. the provision. of a. distributor. come prisingia series. of. stacked identical elements arranged to form a column, each oii'the. elements having therein a plurality of. passagesand; the? passages from one element to the next being.correlated so that the. upper. element feeds, directly to the. upper. feed pad}, the. next. lower. element feeds to. thenextlower pad. andso. on, all of. the passagesoriginatingjnthe upperv element, which has as many inlets as there are elementa Iti's-a feature of. the inventionwto. provide. these elements. in. theform of. individual. identical castings so that all may be manufactured from. the samemold; and sothatthefinishing or machining processes be. identical! for each; In addition, the unitary or integral! construction: of eachelementenables the provision thereon. of. an integral.' branch for. supporting: the moistener pad. Clonsequentlm, the several solderingand brazing operations requiredinthe prior art-construction noted above. are eliminated;

It is another: feature of. the inventionto provide-a.series:e:f identical-elements, each of which has upper andlower surfaces, its upper surface being-recessed toaccommodatea gasket and; the thickness. of! the gasket being slightly greater than. the depth ofi. the recess sothat when the elementsfarei assembled and drawn together We compression. member;, the? gasket. is compressed betweenneighboring. elements soras to establish a. fluid seal; against. radial: leakage; In; this re:- spect; the outer-portion of; the element-:formingg the: gasket recess is continuousand. meets the bottom. surfaci'aea of the; nextthigher element so: as to prevent radial, extrusion of: the gasket as. the elements arasecuredtog'ethen.

AstilL fur-then feature of thezinvention resides in; the; means for: supporting the: elem ents; so: that the? eiememxs are keyed. together with. their inlets; airdzz outlets: respectively in register, the sup-' means including" a centrah member: or noncircular.- section and: the elements: each having: a centrah bore: of? correspmrdingly non-circular shape so-that th-eaelements; are keyedtc; the: sup port and thus? held'. against: relative angular: disrplacemerrt; A still; further: feature of. the inyen'. tion: residesin. the construction of assembly ofi'elements toziormia eoliimrr. that'mayrbe readily. used in pickers ofi existi-ngtypes. without; mate;- rially altering the'structure of such; picker. to adapt never dlsti ibuton.

Theforegoing aitd othenimportant-obiectsand desirable features; inherent im and encompassed: by the invention Will become apparent: BJSL prefer-red embodiments of" the: invention are; iull'y disclosed in the following? detailed description and accompanying sheets on drawingsz in which Figure ltisa .fragmentam rsentionahview show-- ing'a typical:cnttompicken-constructicm in which one form of the improved distributor is embodied.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, as seen substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial vertical sectional view as seen on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional View, on the scale of Figure 2, as seen along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale as seen along the line 5--5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective sectional view as seen along the line 6-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the elements per se that make up the assembly shown in Figures 1 through 6, a portion of the peripheral wall of the element being broken away and the fluid-delivery branch being cut off to accommodate the figure to the sheet.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the gasket member used with the element of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a view similar to that appearing in Figure 3 but illustrating the use of a second form of distributor.

Figure 10 is a view similar to that appearing in Figure 6 but illustrating the second form of distributor.

Figure 11 is a perspective view similar to Fig- .3

ure 7 but illustrating the second form of distributor element per se.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the gasket used with the distributor element of Figure 11.

In Figure 1, the numeral designates generally cotton picking mechanism comprising a drum having an upper head 32 and a lower plate 34. This drum is rotatable about a central axis (not shown) and carries a plurality of picker bars or columns, only one of which appears at 36. A shaft 38 within the column 36 has thereon a plurality of bevel pinions, such as shown at 48, which are respectively in mesh with a plurality of spindle pinions 42, only one of which appears in Figure l. of a picker spindle 44, the column 36 having therein a plurality of uniformly vertically spaced spindle bearings for supporting the several spindles. In one well-known construction, there are twenty vertically spaced spindles such as those shown at 44 in Figure 1. There may be any desired number of columns such as that shown at 3B. These columns are arranged in uniformly circumferentially spaced relation about the drum and the spindles that project generally radially outwardly therefrom are thus arranged in horizontal vertically spaced layers. The first two spindles in Figure 1 represent the typical spacing between the first and second layers of spindles, it being understood that this spacing is uniform between the successive layers of spindles. The spindle at the bottom in Figure 1 is in the bottom layer and the intermediate layers have been omitted in the interests of avoiding unnecessary duplication of parts.

The housing in which the picker drum or mechanism 30 is carried comprises an upper plate 48 and a lower plate 50. These plates suitably support therebetween an upright distributor assembly designated generally by the numeral 52. This device or assembly will be described in detail below. For the present, a general explanation of the relationship between the distributor and the picking mechanism might be of interest.

The distributor in this case comprises a ver- Each pinion 42 is keyed to the shaft tical series of identical elements equal in number to the layers of spindles 44. For the purposes of clarity in the later description, these elements will be designated by letters of the alphabet, beginning at A with the uppermost element. Since not all of the elements are shown, it will be understood that some of the intermediate designations will be necessarily omitted. The bottom or lowermost element is designated by the letter T. Each of the elements has integral therewith a fluid-distributing or delivering branch 54. Since these branches are identical, they will be designated by the numeral 54 followed by the designation of the element from which it extends. Each branch carries thereon a rubber moistener pad, the designations of the pads being such as to identify each pad with the element with which it is associated.

Figure 5 best shows the construction of the pad 56A and its relationship to the branch 54A. As shown, the branch has at its outer or free end a rectangular flange 58A, and the pad 56A has an elastic peripheral lip 63A which slips over the flange 58A and which is integral with a fiat perforated portion 62A. The pad 56A has depending from the portion 62A a plurality of flexible fins 64A. The branch 54A has a passage 66A for conveying moisture to the perforations in the pad portion 62A, from which the moisture or fluid escapes via the fins 64A to the spindles in the layer over which the pad 56A is positioned, which is best shown in Figure 1. It will be understood, of course, that the remaining pads 56B, 560, etc. are identical to the pad 56A. In the interests of clarity and brevity, detailed description of the remaining individual pads is deemed unnecessary. However, as shown in Figure 3, the branches 54A, 543, etc. have passages BBB, 66C, etc. identical to the passage 66A.

The distributor 52 has a header B8 to which fluid of a suitable character is supplied by a supply pipe 10. By means that will be described below, the fluid reaches the distributor pads 56A, 563, etc., for ultimate deposit on the associated spindles as the spindles pass respectively beneath the pads. The distributor 52 is supported in any suitable manner, as designated generally by the numeral 12 in Figure l, for vertical adjustment relative to the upper and lower housing plates 48 and so as to secure the proper relationship between the series of pads and the layers of spindles. The following description will pertain to that form of the invention illustrated primarily in Figures 3 through 8 and immediate reference will be had to Figure 7.

In Figure 7, it will be assumed that the top or uppermost element A is shown. This element comprises a main body member TEA, which is preferably a casting of metal or other molded product of relatively rigid material. The branch 54A is rigid with the body 14A. It is preferred that the body and its branch be cast or molded integrally in order to render production of these items in quantity as economical as possible.

The body 54A is generally of cup-shaped construction, to the extent that it has a peripheral wall 76A surrounding a top face or surface 78A, the rim of the peripheral Wall WA being, of course, spaced port-ion 80h has a central bore, preferablymoncircular in shape as shown at HA and adapted to receive a support as-will appear presently.-

The element- A has a flat lower or undersurface 84A, and that portion of thebody between the undersurface 34A andthe top surf-ace- !8A- defines a transverse wall 86A. It will be appreciated thatin this form of the-invention, the vertical dimension or thickness of the transversewall' 86A is preponderantly greater than the height of the peripheral wa-ll 16A. Itwill beseenfurther that the projection of the mounting per-- tion 88A above the top surface 18A creates at the top of the body member HA- an annular gasket-receiving space 88A, the bottom of which isformed, ofcourse by the top surface WA. This annular recess receives a gasket member 96A- (Figure. 8) on. which is'formed a part in the form ofa tab 92A adapted to be received by a slot 54A in the; peripheral wall 78A. Thus, the parts 92A and 94A comprise interengageable parts cooperative to hold the gasket against angular movement relative to the body "MA.

As used herein, the expression element includes th body member MA and the gasket 90A. It will be understood, of course, thatthe element could be of one-piece construction, but the present disclosure is based on one preferred embodiment of the invention and the detailed description should not be taken as importing any limitations into th invention. Similarly, such expressions as top,"bottom', etc. are here used as. terms of convenience; and not of limitation. For example, cotton pickers are not unknown in which the, drums rotate about axes other than vertical. Therefore, the expression column is also a term of convenience and not of limitation.

The body 14A has in a side portion thereof a discharge opening 95A which communicates with the fluidedelivery passage 66A in the element branch 54A. Thus, the opening 96A, communicates via the passage 66A in a direction toward the picking mechanism. Consequently,,the discharge opening 96A may be said to face toward the picking mechanism. The body member MA provided at its top surface. 18A with a set of uniformly angularly spaced top openings numbered here from I to 20, beginning with number I just above and slightly angularly offset from the discharge opening; BEA Since reference. is, still being, had. to. Figure "l, the openings for, the. element A are identifiedas, IA, 2A,,etci Corresp ing openings that appear in other elements, will alsobe numbered from I tofifl (to theextent. that they are visible)v and these numbers willjhave-a suffix letter according to. the element in which they are formed.

The opening IA may be considered a feed'opening and i connected, by an individual, passage IAX to the discharge, or side opening 96A. The body member 14A is provided with a plurality of additional passages equal in number to and leading respectively downwardly from the, additional top openings 2A, 3A, etc.,,each ofthese passages being designated by the legend X as a sufiix to the number of the top opening from which it leads. Thes are individual passages, being separate from the passage 1 AX" and separate from each other, and open at. the lower surface. 84A of the body member MA as outlets Z'AY, 3AY,.etc. In this embodiment of the invention, the. elements A, B; etc. are circular (except for the branches). Therefore, the openings IA, 2A; etc; are uniformly angul'arly spaced; although; it'will be appreciated that they-could be otherwise ar--- ranged within the spiritor the presentinventibna V I Further; in this fbrm-oftheinvention, theoutlet' TA? is-directlyunder the feed opening LA and the remaining outlet are uniformly angularlyspaced according to the uniform angular; spacing of thetop openings IA, etc. How-- ever, since the-top openingl A- leads directly via the passage MX'tothe side or discharge opening 96A, there will be one fewer out-lets ZAY, 3A2; etc. than there are-top openings IA', 2A, etc. Stated otherwise; excluding the top feedopening I A, there areas many outlets as there are top openings; Since the outlet 2Ais directly-below the-top opening in, and since the angular spacing of-the openings is uniform and equal tothat of the angular-spacing of thetop openings, the circumferentialor angular offset of the outlets relative to their respective top openings will be uniform around the member 141i. That is to say; the top openings 2A, which is the opening next adjacent to thefeed opening 1 A, is connected by the passage 2AX to the outlet Z'AYjthe passage-ZAX'being angled or offset relative tot-he vertical to accommodate the relationship just noted. It will" be observed that in Figure 6 there is a definite spiral to each of" the passages. As will bebrought out below, this spiral is part of a helix of the entire columnar-assembly-52. The helices on which the passages are respectively formed are uniform or identical throughout the column, which relationship establisheethepeculiar communication of the passages to be. outlined subsequently:

Since in this preferred embodiment of" the inventiorr the element A is of two-piececonstruction (including the body member 14A and the gasket 902%), the gasket is provided with a plurality of passages equal in number to the top opening-sin the body member MA and angul'arl'y spaced according to the spacing, of said top openings; For the purposes of identification, the passagesin the gasket mm are designatedrespectively by the numerals I through 20 suffixed to the basic gasket member number A.

Since itis quit'eapparent that the gasket 90A is flat and in the form of a ring tofit the annular recess 88A, it follows." that" the gasket has an upper" surface and a bottom, surfaceand that the bottom surface rests flatly on" the top surface. 18A of the bo'dymember HA. In the interests of clarity, it is believed unnecessary to designate the inlets" and outlets of the gasket member passagesby" separate: legends. Suflice it to say that the gasket 50A. fits in the gasket-receiving recess 88A ofthebody member MA so that the gasket membenpassageseflAl; 99M, etc.'are'respectively in register with the top openings IA, 2A,. etc. Proper register of the openings and passages is achieved by the cooperation between the tab' 92A on the-gasket and the slot 94A in the body' member TIA; I

It'is' a featureof the invention that the vertical dimension or thicknessof the gasket: 90A slightly exceeds the height: to which the peripheral wall TEA risesabove its surrounded top surface 18A. The-gasket isof fiexiblematerial: capable of compressi'qn vertically so that before assembly the upper" surface of thegasket will be slightly above the level of therim of the peripheral wall 18A. But, when the elements-A, B, etc. are assembled and drawn' together by a compressionvmember to be subsequently described, the gaskets will be respectively compr'essed between neighboring elements so 1 as t'o-provid'e a fluidetight seal preventing leakage in a direction radially of the column and preventing leakage among the various passages in the same element. As will best appear in Figure 3, the bottom surface of one element seats on the top of the rim of the peripheral wall of the body member of the next lower element. Since the peripheral wall of each body member surrounds its associated gasket, the gasket is prevented from being extruded through the joint between neighboring elements.

The elements are assembled axially onto a support member 13 which is here shown as being hexagonal in cross section, as is the shape of the bore 82A in the body member 14A. Likewise, the bore through each of the other elements is hexagonal. The main point to be observed is that the correspondingly similar non-circular shapes of the support and the bores through the elements are such as to achieve key means between the elements and the supports preventing angular displacement of one element relative to the other and thus maintaining registry of the associated passages.

The lower end portion of the support 73 is threaded at 75 to be received by a clamp 11 that forms part of the mounting means 12.

The clamp 11 has one or more cars '19 suitably secured, as by bolts 8|, to the bottoms plate 50 of the housing. The outlets ITY, ZTY, etc. of the bottom element T are closed in any appropriate manner, as by a circular plate 83 which rests on a collar 85 formed rigid with or otherwise secured to the lower end portion of the hexagonal support 13. The elements above the element T are stacked on the support 13 to form the column construction and a circular header plate 81, centrally apertured to receive the upper end of the support I3, rests on top of the element A. This header plate has twenty apertures therethrough (or any other number to correspond with the number of elements) and is secured in place as part of the column assembly by means of a washer 89 and nut 91 threaded onto a reduced threaded end portion of the support 13.

The support 13 and its associated parts thus act as a draw member to secure the elements A, 13, etc. together in compression, thus compressing the gaskets as stated above and providing for the fluid-tight seals as described. In the interests of clarity, the apertures through the header plate 8'? will not be separately identified by reference characters.

The header means 62 previously described comprises an inverted cup secured by cap screws 93 to the header plate 8'! and having an upper central aperture to receive a fitting 95 of the supply pipe Til. Within the header chamber thus provided is a conical fluted member 91 having a flat upper surface 98 directly below the supply tube 10. The conical portion of the member 91 is formed with a plurality of uniformly angularly spaced flutes leading outwardly and downwardly respectively to individual openings equal in number to the number of elements. These openings in the member 91 are designated in succession by the numerals 91-4 through 91-20 and these openings communicate through the respectively registering openings in the header plate 81 with the inlets to the element A as afforded by the gasket passages 90A! through 90AM.

As best shown in Figure l, the header means 68 is surrounded by a ring 69 that is carried. by a cup-shaped apertured member II that is in turn secured to the upper housing wall 48. These details of the support means are not im- 8 portant and the distributor device 52 could be otherwise supported.

As will be apparent from the representative showing in Figure 6, the twenty inlets at the top of the top element A lead successively to the twenty vertically spaced moisture-applying pads 55A through 5ST. The first pad is supplied directly with moisture via its branch passage 66A, side or discharge opening 96A, feed passage lAX and the feed port as established by the registering top opening lA in the member 74A and the first passage BBAI in the gasket 90A. The next adjacent angled or spiraled passage 2AX in the element A has its outlet ZAY in register with the feed ort of the element B, this feed port being established by the gasket member passage 90B! and the member feed opening IB and associated passage IBX, which leads via the side opening 98B through the branch passage 663 to the pad 56B. Stated otherwise, the inlets of each element are successively and regularly oilset with respect to the inlets of the element next above. The first inlet in each element leads directly to its discharge opening, the next inlet leads ultimately to the discharge opening of the element next below, the next inlet leads ultimately to the discharge opening of the second element below it and so on. The spiral or angular offset of the passages EAX, QAX, etc. provides for the arrangement of the discharge openings 96A, 9613, etc. in alinement along a line height-wise of or parallel to the axis of the columnar construction. Thus, the branches 54A, 543, etc. may be in vertical alinement, as may be the pads 53A, 563, etc.

Theoretically, each element need not have as many passages as the other. For example, the top element must have as many passages as there are elements, since it must ultimately supply all elements. However, the next to the top element may have one less passage than there are elements, since it must ultimately supply only itself and the elements below it. In short, each element need have only as many passages as there are elements below it, plus one. Thus, the bottom element need have only the passage lTX for feeding directly to the discharge outlet GET. However, in the interests of economy of manufacture, it is preferred that the elements be made identical, even though some of the passages are not used. Nevertheless, omission of the unnecessary passages while accomplishing the results as disclosed herein is not deemed to be a departure from the spirit of the invention.

To recapitulate: Each element-without regard to its specific identity-has three basic parts; to wit, the body, its integral branch, and its associated gasket. Each element has a plurality of passages X. One of the passages has a feed port l and the remaining passages have inlets 2, 3, etc. The passage that is connected to the feed port has its outlet through the side of the element at 96. And the remaining passages have outlets Y at the bottom of the element. Thus, there are one fewer outlets at the bottom of the element than there are inlets at the top of the element, considering the feed port as one of the inlets. However, considering the discharge opening as an outlet, the number of outlets equals the number of inlets.

In explanation of Figure 3, and having particular reference to the uppermost element A, it will be observed that the passages lAX and AK appear to terminate in the midplane between the appear to have continuations ZAX and IZAX,

This resultis due to the cutting of the element by a vertical plane for the purposes of the section on the line 33 in Figure v2. Thus, this plane cuts through the spiraling passagesin such manner that only the upper half of the passage .l LAX and the lower halves of the passages ZAX and IZAX appear in the sectional view. The passage ,IAX of course terminates at the discharge opening 96A. .If the passages were such that the center line of each was parallel to the axis of the column, then each passage lying in the plane of the section would be visible from top to bottom, but since the passages arespiral or angularly offset as described, a somewhat anomalous appearance results.

Another preferred form of the invention is-disclosed in Figures 9 through 12. Various .of the details of this embodiment of .the invention are identical to those of the embodiment just described. v

The following description will pertain to the embodiment shown .in Figures .9 through 12. The distributing element is designated in its entirety by the numeral 52' and is supported between the upper and lower housing plates 48 and 5B in a manner-identical to that described iii-connection with Figure 3. To the extent that the same parts are utilized in the mounting or support of the assembly 52, these parts will bear the same reference characters used in the description of Figure 3, without any additional detailed description.

The basic difference between each of the elements may best be seen by a comparison of Figures 7 and 11. Again, to the extent that the two elements are similar, detailed description will not be .resorted to, but reference characters corresponding to those previously used, but primed, will be applied to the drawing. One basic distinction :between the elements 14A and 14A is that in the latter the gasket-receiving annular recess 88A is considerably deeper. Thus, the peripheral wall 16A rises to a greater height above the top surface 18A. Likewise, the supporting portion 80A rises to a greater height above the surface 18A than does the supporting portion 88A above the ..surface 18A of the element A. Nevertheless, .the upper portions of the supporting portion 80A and the peripheral wall 16A are coplanar.

.Another basic difference is that in the element A, for example, the passages .lAX', lAXQ etc. have their center lines parallel to the axis .of the column so that the inlet 2A" of the passage 2AX is in vertical alinement with the outlet ZAY' of said passage. However, :in order to maintain the angular tor spiral :ofiset as outlined in connection with the description of Figures 1 through 8, the gasket 94A is constructed so that the spiral or offset is incorporated therein in the passages 91ml, 90A 2', etc. The gasket 90A has thereon a tab 94A which cooperates with a slot "BBA' in'the peripheral wall 16A of the body member 14A. Because of the considerably increased depth of the gasket-receiving annular recess 88f the gasket 90A is correspondingly increased in'thickness. Again, the gasket is, when not compressed, slightly greater in thickness or vertical dimension than the .depth of the recess so that when .themembers 14A, 143, etc. are assembled the gaskets may be compressed as previously described. .Again, the peripheral wall 16A .surroundsthe gasket 90A .soas to prevent radial extrusion of the gasket. The .fiuidtight .seal features of the .-modified form of the 10 invention are the sameas those of the form of the invention described above.

In all other respects, the .two forms of the invention are substantially identical, with the exceptionsnoted above. Inasmuch as the gasket A, .for example, is composed of flexible moldable material, it is found easier to mold or core the spiral passages in the gasket than it is in the cast metal of which the member 14A, for example, is composed. Nevertheless, the conditions of .molding or casting may vary from time to timeand it may be .found easier to manufacture the modification of Figures 1 through 8. These distinctions are pointed out merely as differences between the two terms .of the invention and not as limiting factors that may determine that one or the other may he insignificantly modified as a departure from the spirit of the invention.

Briefly, the fluid-distribution results attainable .in the construction nf Figures .8 through .12 are the same as those attainable in the modification of Figures .1 through .8. For example, looking now at .Figure .10, the gasket member passage MAJ, which receives fluid from the header 68 via the conical member passage '9'I-I leads to the feed port 1A in the upper surface 13A -.of the upper element. Because of the depth of the annular gasket-receiving recess 88A, the feed port I A and its associated passage .lAX that'leads to the discharge opening 96A are substantially coincident. Nevertheless, their presence coincides with the presence of the corresponding openings and passage in the other form of the invention. Thus, the upper element conveys fluid directly to its .own branch 54A. The second ,gasketmember passage .90A2' spirals downwardly and angularly to communicate with the passage '2AX' in the body member 14A. The outlet 2AY of .thispassage 2AX' is in communication with the spiraled passage 90B! of the element 13' and this passage leads to the branch passage 663' in the branch 54B. As in the instance previously described, the individual inlets "in the top element lead ultimately and in succession to the vertically spaced and vertically alined branch passages 64A, 66B, etc.

As initially outlined, the present invention eliminates many of the manufacturing difiiculties and expenses heretofore experienced. Inasmuch as each of the elements may be cast and the molds may be identical, there is little if any difiiculty experienced in originally assembling or subsequently .disassembling and .reassembling the components of the distributor. Because of .the key means afforded by the support of non-circular section and the bores of non-circular :shape through the elements, it is necessary only to see that the branches .are in vertical 'alinement, which, together with the keying or interlocking of the gaskets to their associated elements, assures perfect registry of the associated passages and openings.

Various features or the invention not specifically enumerated will undoubtedly occur to those versed in the .art, as will other modifications .of the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed, all of which may be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the. invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cotton picker having picking mechanism of the type including, a plurality of uniformly vertically spaced layers :of picker spindles, the improvement residing, in a fluid rdistributorfor the spindlescomprising: a vertical series .7 l1 of individual distributor elements equal in num-, ber to the spindle layers and respectively having upper and lower surfaces and arranged to form a column alongside the picking mechanism, with the lower surface of each element except the bottom element overlying the upper surface of the next lower element and with said elements respectively at the levels of the spindle layers; each element having in a side portion thereof facing toward the picking mechanism a discharge opening leading toward the associated layer of spindles and raised passage extending inwardly and upwardly and opening as a feed port at the upper surface of the element, the elements being so. arranged that the feed ports are alined along the height of the column; each element above the bottom element having therein as many transfer passages as there are elements below it, one transfer passage in each element except the bottom element having an outlet at its lower surface in register with the feed port in the next lower element and an inlet at its upper surface offset from said outlet in a direction transverse to the height of the column so as to be transversely spaced from its own feed port, said one transfer passage being separate from its own feed passage and shaped to extend both transverse to and along the height of the column to provide said offset, theremaining transfer passages in each element being similarly shaped and having similarly offset inlets and outlets so that the inlets of the remaining transfer pasages in each element, with the exception of those in the top element, are progressively respectively in register with the outlets of the remainin transfer passages in the next higher element; and means above the top element for supplying fluid to the inlets and feed port of the top element, whereby said top element feed port delivers fluid via its feed passage directly to its discharge opening and the top element inlets deliver fluid via their own transfer passages and the successively registering passages below them to the remaining discharge openings in descending order.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: each element has rigid therewith a single distributor branch projecting transversely outwardly therefrom toward the picking mechanism substantially at the level of the associated layer of spindles, said branch has a fluid delivery passage therein in communication with the associated discharge opening, and the branches are in vertical alinement.

3. The invention defined in claim 2, in which: each element includes a casting and its distributor branch is an integral cast part thereof.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: each element is of rigid construction and incorporates therein the above defined passages, feed port and discharge opening and is further recessed at one of its surfaces to provide a gasket-receiving space; a gasket is positioned in each such space to cooperate with the associated surface of the neighboring element, each gasket having apertures therethrough to communicate the registering inlets, outlets and feed ports; and securing means running height-wise of the columns operates on the top and bottom elements to compress the intervening elements and the gaskets therebetween to unify the column.

5. The invention defined in claim 4, in which: the elements and their associated gaskets respectively have interlocking parts for assuring such positioning of the gaskets as to ac i v 12 registry of the gasket apertures with the associated inlets, outlets and feed ports.

6. The invention defined in claim 4, in which: the gasket-receiving space in each element is defined by a transverse surface surrounded by a peripheral wall extending vertically therefrom; the thickness of each gasket is slightly greater than the vertical dimension of the wall; and each gasket is compressible in a vertical direction so that the securing means draws the elements together with the gaskets compressed therebetween and with the rim of the peripheral wall of each element contacting the associated surface of the neighboring element.

'7. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: a support member runs height-wise of the column to secure the elements together; and means is cooperative between said member and the elements to lock the elements in position to maintain the register of the associated inlets, outlets and feed ports.

8. The invention defined in claim 1, in which: each element comprises an outer cup-like member of relatively rigid material and an inner filler member of relatively flexible material; said outer member having a peripheral side wall and a transverse wall, said transverse wall having an outer face providing one of the substantially horizontal surfaces of the element and an interior face surrounded by the peripheral wall, said transverse wall further having apertures therein providing parts of the passages in the element; and said inner member is received within the outer member and is surrounded by the peripheral wall of said outer member, said inner member having first and second substantially horizontal faces, the first of which lies flatly against the interior face of the outer member transverse wall and the second of which provides the other substantially horizontal surface of the element; and said inner member has openings therethrough respectively in register with the apertures in the transverse Wall and providing the other parts of the passages in the element.

9. The invention defined in claim 8, in which: the transverse wall is relatively thin and the inner member is relatively thick; and the apertures in the transverse wall are vertical and the openings through the inner member are shaped as aforesaid to provide the aforesaid offset between the inlets and outlets of the transfer passages.

10. In a cotton picker having picking mechanism of the type including a plurality of uniformly vertically spaced layers of picker spindles, the improvement residing in a fluid distributor for the spindles comprising: a vertical series of individual distributor elements equal in number to the spindle layers and respectively having upper and lower surfaces and arranged to form a column alongside the picking mechanism, with the lower surface of each element except the bottom element overlying the upper surface of the next lower element and with said elements respectively at the levels of the spindle layers; each element having in a side portion thereof facing toward the picking mechanism a dis charge opening leading toward the associated layer of spindles and a feed passage extending inwardly and upwardly and opening as a. feed port at the upper surface of the element, the elements being so arranged that the feed ports are radially spaced from the axis of the column and in alinement on a line parallel to the axis of the column; each element above the bottom eleas there are elements below it, one transf er passage in each element except the 'bottomielement having an outlet at its lower surface inregister with the feed port in the next lower element and an inlet at its upper surface offset angularly from said outlet so as to be angularly spaced from its own feed port, said one transferpassage being 5881331334136 from its own feed passage and shaped to extend "both vertically and angularly to provide said offset, the remaining transfer passages in each element-being-similarly shaped and having similarly 'ofisetinlets and outletsso that the inlets of the remaining transfer passages in each element, with the exception of those in the top element, areuniformlyangularly spaced about the axis of the 'column and progressively respectively in register with the outlets of the-remaining'transfer passages in the next higher element; and means above the top element for supplying fiuidto the inlets and "feed port of the top element, whereby said top eleinen'tffeed port delivers fluid via its "fee'd "passage directly to its discharge opening and the top element inlets deliver fluid via their own transfer passages and the-successively registering passages below them to the remaining discharge openings in descending order.

11. The invention defined in claim 10, in which: each elementha-s anaxial opening therethrough separate from its passages, said openings are coaxial; a support member passes through the coaxial elements; and key means'is cooperative between the support member and the elements for keying theelements to-the support member against angular displacement of the elements relative to eachother.

12. The invention defined in claim 11, in which: each axial opening is of non-circular shape and the supportmember is of correspondingly non-circular section to achieve the key means.

13. The invention defined in claim '10, in which: each element is circular about the axis of the .column and'has integral'therewith a radially projecting branch leading toward the picking mechanism, said branch has a'fluid delivery passage therein in communication with the associated discharge opening; and the branches are in vertical alinement.

14. The invention defined in claim 10, 'in which: each transfer passage is formed on 'a helix of the column axis to achieve the aforesaid angular offset between its inlet and outlet and the groups of communicating transfer passages from element to element are formed respectively on the same helices.

15. A fiuid distributor of the character described, comprising: an elongated assembly in the form of a column made up of a series of identical elements that respectively have upper and lower surfaces disposed radially to the axis of the column, and means securing the elements together in surface-to-surface contact except for the upper surface of the top element and the lower surface of the bottom element; each element having at its upper surface a plurality of openings equal in number to the elements and uniformly angularly spaced on a circle about the column axis, one of said openings being a feed port and the other of said openings beinginlets; each element having at its lower surface a plurality of openings equal in number to the inlets and providing outlets angularly spaced on an identical and concentric circle on the order 14 of the :spaning of the 311118158 so that one outlet lies directly below "the feedportand theremaining :outlets lie respectively directly below the inlets; each "element .ii-aving therein a feed passage communicating withthe feedgport and leading .radiallyto the exterior-of theelement apart fromtthe inlets :and outlets in that element; each element 'further having a number of additional passages equal to the inlets in the element and separate firomeach'other andsfrom the feedpassage :and connected respectively to and leading both downwardly and angularly from the inlets toward the outlets in such manner that the first inlet :next to the feed port in :each element .is connected :to the outlet directly below said feed port and the remaining inlets in each element are cconnected respectively .in succession to "the remaining outlets; the elements being arranged so that the feedports. are alined. on a linerparallel to the rcolumnaxis each feedport except thatin the top elementzregistering-with one :outlet :of the next ahi'gher element and the .inlets in each element except the top element registering with the outlets of the :nexthigher element; means closing the outlets in the bottom element; and-means for :supplyingfluid to the inlets "and feed port'in the stop element.

16. A distributor element of the character described, comprising: a body having a side portion anzd upper and lowersurfaces; means in the body providing a discharge opening in the side portion; means in the body providing a set of spaced :openingsat'the upper-surfaceof the body, one :of said. openings being-a feed port and the other openings being inlets; means in the body providing a feed passa-geconneoting the feedport and-the :discharge opening; means in the body providing aset of openings comprising outlets at the lower surface of the body equal in number to the aforesaid inlets, one of said outlets lying directly below but separate from the feed port and the other outlets being spaced apart on the order of itheispacing of the inlets soasto lie directly below the inlets; and means in the body providingcaip'lurality of transfer passagesseparate from each other: and from -the.fee.d passageand respectively connecting'the inlets andnutletsonetransfer passage leading from the inlet next adjacent to the feed port to an outlet and the remaining transfer passages leading in regular. succession from the other inlets respectively to the other outlets.

17. Theinvention defined in claim 16, in which: a branchisrrigid with'the'body and extends outwardly from the si'de portion; and said branch has a delivery passage therein leading from the dischargeopening.

18. The invention defined in claim 16, in which:

the body is of two-piece construction, divided intermediate its upper and lower surface into a lower part and an upper part, one of said parts being of relatively rigid material and the other part being of relatively flexible material and serving as a gasket; and one of said parts has one set of the aforesaid openings and the other part has the other set of openings to provide the feed port. inlets and outlets and the discharge opening; and at least one of said parts has portions of the passages therein to interconnect the openings as aforesaid.

19. A distributor element of the character described, comprising: a generally cup-shaped member having a transverse wall and a peripheral wall surrounding the transverse Wall, said transverse wall having an exterior lower surface and an interior top surface within the peripheral wall, and said peripheral wall having a rim spaced above said top surface; means in the member providing a discharge opening leading outwardly intermediate the top and lower surfaces of the transverse wall; means in the member providing a plurality of spaced individual passages opening at the top surface of the transverse wall as a plurality of individual top openings, one of said top openings comprising a feed opening and one of the passages leading from said feed opening to the discharge opening and the other passages leading downwardly and opening at the lower surface of the transverse wall as a plurality of individual outlets; and a gasket member received within the peripheral wall and having a bottom surface lying flat on the top surface of the transverse wall and an upper surface in the vicinity of the rim of the peripheral wall, said gasket member being perforated to provide a plurality of spaced upright passages respectively having inlets at its upper surface and transfer openings at its lower surface, said transfer openings being respectively in register with the body member top openings.

20. The invention defined in claim 19, in which: the gasket member is composed of flexible material providing for vertical compression thereof; and the vertical dimension of the uncompressed gasket member slightly exceeds the vertical distance between the top surface of the transverse wall and the rim of the peripheral wall so that the upper surface of the gasket member when uncompressed is slightly above said rim but when compressed is at least flush with said rim.

21. The invention defined in claim 19, in which: the gasket and body members respectively have interengageable parts cooperative to position the gasket so as to assure register of the gasket member passages and the top openings in the transverse wall of thebody member.

22. The invention defined in claim 19, in which: one of the outlets is directly below the feed openings; and said other passages are uniformly angled to the vertical so that the top opening next to the feed opening is connected to said one outlet and the remaining top openings are connected in regular succession respectively to the remaining outlets.

23. The invention defined in claim 19, in which: the passages in the gasket member have inlets at the upper surface of the gasket member and transfer openings at the bottom surface of the gasket member; and the gasket member passages are uniformly angled to the vertical so that each gasket member passage connects an inlet to the transfer opening below the next adjacent inlet.

24. The invention defined which: the member includes a central support rising from the top surface of the transverse wall and surrounded by the peripheral wall; the top openings are in that portion of said top surface between the peripheral wall and the support portion; the support portion has a bore vertically therethrough and independent of the passages and openings and adapted to receive a support; and the gasket member is in the form of a ring surrounding the support portion and surrounded by the peripheral wall.

25. The invention defined in claim 24, in which: the bore is of non-circular shape and adapted to receive a support of correspondingly non-circular section.

26. A fluid distributor of the character described, comprising: an elongated assembly in the form of a column made up of a series of identical elements that respectively have upper and lower surfaces disposed transverse to the axis of the column, and means securing the elements together in surface-to-surface contact except for the upper surface of the top element and the lower surface of the bottom element; each element having at its upper surface a plurality of spaced openings equal in number to the elements, one of said openings being a feed port and the other of said openings being inlets; each element having at its lower surface a plurality of openings equal in number to the inlets and providing outlets spaced on the order of the spacing of the inlets; each element having therein a feed passage communicating with the feed port and leading transversely outwardly to the exterior of the element apart from the inlets and outlets in that element; each element further having a number of additional passages equal to the inlets in the element and separate from each other and from the feed passage and connected respectively to and leading downwardly from the inlets toward the outlets in such manner that the first inlet next to the feed port in each element is connected to one outlet and the remaining inlets in each element are connected respectively in succession to the remaining outlets; and the elements being arranged so that the feed ports are alined on a line parallel to the column axis, each feed port except that in the top element registering with one outlet of the next higher element and the inlets in each element except the top element registering with the outlets of the next higher element.

DALE D. GROSVENOR.

No references cited.

in claim 19, in 

